Tao Long: The Way of the Dragon Review

Tao Long: The Way of the Dragon is a game of battling dragons. It is, at its heart, a two-player game, although a small expansion allows two additional players/dragons to be added to the board, for team play. Each player is a dragon, on a grid-like board, with the dragon consisting of a head tile and three body tiles.

Each turn comprises of a move and, if possible, an attack. Cause enough damage, and the opposing dragon will lose a body segment. The object of the game is to damage the opposing dragon sufficiently that they lose all body segments.

Gameplay

Player turns in a game of Tao Long, designed by Dox Lucchin and Pedro Latro, are determined by a mancala. There are several tokens (stones) arranged on the mancala (called the Ba Gua) - on their turn, a player takes all stones from one spot on the Ba Gua, and drops one onto the next anti-clockwise spot and then the next, and so on. Each spot is associated with a specific type of movement on the board - the spot on which the last stone is placed determines the move that the dragon makes.

If the dragon is unable to make the move in question, that turn is not legal, and cannot be taken. If there is no legal move available, the player’s dragon takes damage. Each spot on the Ba Gua is only legal if the dragon is currently facing in either a horizontal or a vertical direction, never both.

At the end of the movement, if the dragon head is facing and immediately adjacent to an opponent dragon piece (body or head), it will bite that dragon, causing one life point of damage. More about damage later.

Two of the spots on the Ba Gua are labelled Fire and Water. Each of these elements has a different function in the game, although both can be used to attack. When taking the fire or water element action, the player may choose to either absorb or expel fire/water.

If the player chooses to absorb, they take one token (of the respective element) from the centre of the Ba Gua (there is a limited supply of both) and places it on their respective “meter” (with space for four of each type of token).

If, on the other hand, the player chooses to expel energy, they are electing to cause damage to their opponent. The amount of damage is determined by three things; the type of energy being expelled, the amount of that energy available, and the relative position of the opposing dragon.

Expelling Fire - If the dragon expels fire, the amount of damage done by a ranged attack is determined by the number of tokens on the fire meter of the active dragon.

Expelling Water -If the dragon expels water, the amount of damage done is determined by the number of water tokens remaining on the Ba Gua.

The damage is then modified by the proximity of the target dragon (A neat little gauge is provided to help with this). Too far away, and no damage is done; very close, an extra damage is caused.

Each point of damage depletes the opposing dragon’s water meter by one token. If the water meter is emptied, a segment of dragon body is removed, the meter refilled, and any remaining damage removed from the newly filled meter.

Additional Game Elements

Tao Long comes with several other game components, which introduce a number of additional game modes, adding variety and complexity.

Portals

The Tao Long game board can feel empty with only two dragons on there; as a result, the opportunities to do damage to your opponent can be rare. Portals allow dragons to “jump” across the board. But beware, using a portal to move closer to your opponent also brings you closer to their attack...

Rocks

Small single-tile obstructions on the board, which cannot be moved through. In some variants of the game, the rocks can be destroyed through attacks or even trampling, but trampling rocks can also damage the dragon…

The Village

In this variant, one dragon is the defender of the village, the other the attacker. This mode introduces new rules for proximity of the attacking dragon to the village.

The Monk Variant

The “stones” on the Ba Gua are split evenly between black and white tiles (to correspond with the dragons). Additional rules come into play when all four stones arrive on the same spot on the Ba Gua, or when all four stones are on alternating spaces.

The Master Variant

In this mode, placement of the stones on the Ba Gua is not always anti-clockwise, it is determined instead by the colour of the stones collected.

Final Thoughts on Tao Long

Tao Long is an elegant, confrontational game, with lovely components. It's best played as a two-player game, though the expansion allows four players to play in teams. Be prepared for some frustrating moments, as your opponent moves right out of your way, or as you unwittingly move your dragon into the worst possible position.

You Might Like

Gorgeous components, with a fairly solid feel.

Several optional additional game elements, adding to gameplay via scenarios.

An excellent two-player confrontational game.

You Might Not Like

Unless you play with additional components, the board can feel a bit empty.

Tao Long is confrontational, if you don't like attacking your opponent, this isn't the game for you.

Only really a two-player game, although it can be expanded to four players (in teams).

You Might Not LikeUnless you play with additional components, the board can feel a bit empty. Tao Long is confrontational, if you don't like attacking your opponent, this isn't the game for you. Only really a two-player game, although it can be expanded to four players (in teams).

Staff were very helpful and the order was swift and very well packed. I live in Ireland and I was able to track the delivery through every step. I will use them again and I have recommended to a friend already

Staff were very helpful and the order was swift and very well packed. I live in Ireland and I was able to track the delivery through every step. I will use them again and I have recommended to a friend already

2 hours ago

Anonymous

★★★★

Prompt delivery, clear indication of stock levels on website -- but dynamic pricing makes it difficult to trust this merchant completely. Also really stingy not to offer free postage when spending so much on a game!

Prompt delivery, clear indication of stock levels on website -- but dynamic pricing makes it difficult to trust this merchant completely. Also really stingy not to offer free postage when spending so much on a game!

11 hours ago

Isabelle

★★★★★

very quick service and a great price for board games. One of the best online gaming shops around

very quick service and a great price for board games. One of the best online gaming shops around

15 hours ago

Anonymous

★★★★★

Zatu seem to consistently have the cheapest games and after having bought a few games from them, also seem to have brilliant customer support, packing/shipping, website etc. Just generally great across the board from what I've experienced so far.

Zatu seem to consistently have the cheapest games and after having bought a few games from them, also seem to have brilliant customer support, packing/shipping, website etc. Just generally great across the board from what I've experienced so far.

15 hours ago

Paul

★★★★★

Zatu are my go-to supplier for board games. Good range, good prices, always delivered quickly and well packaged.

Zatu are my go-to supplier for board games. Good range, good prices, always delivered quickly and well packaged.

18 hours ago

Nathan

★★★★★

Delivery was prompt. The item arrived damaged but the returns procedure was simple and soon a had a replacement item delivered.

Delivery was prompt. The item arrived damaged but the returns procedure was simple and soon a had a replacement item delivered.

18 hours ago

Ben

★★★★★

Superb prices. Really fast delivery. Recommend very highly

Superb prices. Really fast delivery. Recommend very highly

18 hours ago

Kim

★★★★★

Fast service, and absolutely competetive prices. Even with the postage it's still a bargain compared to buying the games here in denmark.

Fast service, and absolutely competetive prices. Even with the postage it's still a bargain compared to buying the games here in denmark.

18 hours ago

gilles

★★★★★

A great way to buy international boardgame. I received quickly my game in France. When I opened my game box, there was missing a bag of pieces, and they helped me to received quickly from the editor the missing pieces. It was really easy and helpful from them.
I'm really happy about them !

A great way to buy international boardgame. I received quickly my game in France. When I opened my game box, there was missing a bag of pieces, and they helped me to received quickly from the editor the missing pieces. It was really easy and helpful from them.
I'm really happy about them !